第055回 The Scorpion Demon Abducts Tang Sanzang

第055回Chapter 55

卻說孫大聖與豬八戒正要使法定那些婦女，忽聞得風響處，沙僧嚷鬧，急回頭時，不見了唐僧。To resume: Great Sage Sun and Zhu Bajie were just about to work their magic to hold those women still, when suddenly, amid the sound of rushing wind, Sha Seng was shouting in alarm; turning quickly, they found Tang Seng gone.行者道：「是甚人來搶師父去了？」沙僧道：「是一個女子，弄陣旋風，把師父攝去也。」行者聞言，唿哨跳在雲端裡，用手搭涼篷，四下裡觀看。"Who has come and carried off our master?" Xingzhe asked. Sha Seng said, "It was a woman — she stirred up a whirlwind and snatched Master away." Hearing this, Xingzhe gave a whistle and leapt into the clouds, shading his eyes with his hand to look about in all directions.只見一陣灰塵，風滾滾，往西北上去了。He saw only a swirl of grey dust, rolling on the wind, heading off toward the northwest.急回頭叫道：「兄弟們，快駕雲同我趕師父去來。」八戒與沙僧即把行囊捎在馬上，響一聲，都跳在半空裡去。He turned quickly and called out, "Brothers, mount the clouds at once and come with me to chase after Master!" Bajie and Sha Seng at once lashed the luggage onto the horse, and with a whoosh, both leapt up into midair.

慌得那西梁國君臣女輩，跪在塵埃，都道：「是白日飛昇的羅漢，我主不必驚疑。The lords, ministers, and womenfolk of the Western Liang Kingdom, thrown into panic, knelt in the dust, all saying, "Those were arhats ascending in broad daylight — Your Majesty need not be alarmed or doubt.唐御弟也是個有道的禪僧，我們都有眼無珠，錯認了中華男子，枉費了這場神思。The Tang Imperial Brother too was a monk of the Way; we all had eyes but no discernment, mistaking him for an ordinary man of the Middle Kingdom, and wasted all this divine effort for nothing.請主公上輦回朝也。」女王自覺慚愧，多官都一齊回國不題。We beg Your Majesty to mount the carriage and return to the court." The Queen felt ashamed of herself, and all the officials together returned to the kingdom — no more of that.

卻說孫大聖兄弟三人騰空踏霧，望著那陣旋風，一直趕來。Now to tell of Great Sage Sun and his two brothers, riding the clouds and treading the mist, chasing straight after that whirlwind.前至一座高山，只見灰塵息靜，風頭散了，更不知妖向何方。They came before long to a tall mountain, where they saw the dust had settled and the wind had died down, with no way of knowing where the demon had gone.兄弟們按落雲霧，找路尋訪，忽見一壁廂青石光明，卻似個屏風模樣。The brothers brought their clouds and mist down and searched about for a path, when suddenly they spied a stretch of bluish stone gleaming to one side, shaped rather like a screen.三人牽著馬轉過石屏，石屏後有兩扇石門，門上有六個大字，乃是「毒敵山琵琶洞」。The three of them led the horse around the stone screen, and behind it found two stone doors, above which were six large characters reading: "Pipa Cave, Poison-Foe Mountain."八戒無知，上前就使釘鈀築門。Bajie, without thinking, rushed forward at once and started battering the door with his muckrake.行者急止住道：「兄弟莫忙。Xingzhe quickly stopped him, saying, "Brother, don't be hasty.我們隨旋風趕便趕到這裡，尋了這會，方遇此門，又不知深淺如何。We simply followed the whirlwind here in our chase, and only after all this searching have we come upon this gate — we still don't know how deep the trouble runs.倘不是這個門兒，卻不惹他見怪？What if this isn't even the right door, and we needlessly provoke someone's wrath?你兩個且牽了馬，還轉石屏前立等片時，待老孫進去打聽打聽，察個有無虛實，卻好行事。」沙僧聽說，大喜道：「好好好，正是粗中有細，果然急處從寬。」他二人牽馬回頭。The two of you had better lead the horse back and wait a while in front of the stone screen. Let old Sun go in first to listen about and look into the truth of things, so we can act accordingly." Hearing this, Sha Seng said happily, "Good, good, good — truly, rough as you seem, you have a fine mind within, and indeed in urgent matters one must proceed with care." The two of them led the horse back.

孫大聖顯個神通，捻著訣，念個咒語，搖身一變，變作蜜蜂兒，真個輕巧。The Great Sage Sun then displayed his magic powers — forming the sign with his fingers, reciting a spell, he shook himself and transformed into a bee, light and nimble indeed.你看他：Behold him:

行者自門瑕處鑽將進去，飛過二層門裡。Xingzhe slipped in through a crack in the door and flew past the second gate within.只見正當中花亭子上端坐著一個女妖，左右列幾個彩衣繡服、丫髻兩揫的女童，都歡天喜地，正不知講論甚麼。There, right in the middle, sitting upright in a flower pavilion, was a female demon, with several serving girls in colorful embroidered clothes and double top-knots arrayed to either side, all joyful and merry, though he could not tell what they were discussing.這行者輕輕的飛上去，釘在那花亭格子上，側耳才聽，又見兩個總角蓬頭女子，捧兩盤熱騰騰的麵食，上亭來道：「奶奶，一盤是人肉餡的葷饝饝，一盤是鄧沙餡的素饝饝。」那女怪笑道：「小的們，攙出唐御弟來。」幾個彩衣繡服的女童走向後房，把唐僧扶出。Xingzhe flew up lightly and perched on the lattice of the flower pavilion, tilting his ear to listen; just then he saw two tousle-haired young girls with hair bound in tufts carry up two steaming trays of noodle food to the pavilion, saying, "My lady, one tray holds meat-filled buns, the other holds bean-paste-filled vegetarian buns." The female demon laughed and said, "You girls, go bring the Tang Imperial Brother out." Several of the colorfully dressed serving girls went to the back room and helped Tang Seng out.那師父面黃唇白，眼紅淚滴。The master's face was sallow, his lips pale, his eyes red, tears dripping.行者在暗中嗟嘆道：「師父中毒了。」Watching from hiding, Xingzhe sighed, "Master has been poisoned."

那怪走下亭，露春蔥十指纖纖，扯住長老道：「御弟寬心。The demon walked down from the pavilion, baring ten slender fingers like spring onions, and taking hold of the elder said, "Imperial Brother, set your mind at ease.我這裡雖不是西梁女國的宮殿，不比富貴奢華，其實卻也清閑自在，正好念佛看經。Though this is not the palace of the Western Liang Women's Kingdom, and cannot compare in wealth and splendor, it is truly peaceful and carefree here — a fine place to chant sutras and recite the Buddha's name.我與你做個道伴兒，真個是百歲和諧也。」三藏不語。I shall be your companion in the Way, and truly we shall live in harmony to a hundred years." Sanzang said nothing.那怪道：「且休煩惱。The demon said, "Do not fret.我知你在女國中赴宴之時，不曾進得飲食。I know that at the banquet in the Women's Kingdom you never got to eat or drink anything.這裡葷素麵飯兩盤，憑你受用些兒壓驚。」三藏沉思默想道：「我待不說話，不吃東西，此怪比那女王不同：女王還是人身，行動以禮；Here are two trays, one of meat and one of vegetarian food — take your pick and ease your shock." Sanzang thought to himself in silence, "If I refuse to speak and refuse to eat, this demon is not like that Queen — the Queen was at least human, and acted according to propriety;此怪乃是妖神，恐為加害，奈何？but this creature is a demon spirit, and I fear she may do me harm — what am I to do?我三個徒弟不知我困陷在於這裡，倘或加害，卻不枉丟性命？」以心問心，無計所奈，只得強打精神，開口道：「葷的何如？My three disciples do not know I am trapped here; if she should harm me, would I not have thrown my life away for nothing?" Questioning his own heart with no answer to be found, he had no choice but to force himself to muster his spirits, and said, "What is the meat one like?素的何如？」女怪道：「葷的是人肉餡饝饝，素的是鄧沙餡饝饝。」三藏道：「貧僧吃素。」那怪笑道：「女童，看熱茶來，與你家長爺爺吃素饝饝。」一女童果捧著香茶一盞，放在長老面前。And the vegetarian one?" The female demon said, "The meat one is filled with human flesh, the vegetarian one with bean paste." Sanzang said, "This poor monk eats only vegetarian food." The demon laughed and said, "Girls, bring hot tea for your family's Venerable Elder to have with his vegetarian bun." One serving girl indeed brought a cup of fragrant tea and set it before the elder.那怪將一個素饝饝劈破，遞與三藏。The demon broke open a vegetarian bun and handed it to Sanzang.三藏將個葷饝饝囫圇遞與女怪。Sanzang handed the whole, unbroken meat bun to the female demon.女怪笑道：「御弟，你怎麼不劈破與我？」三藏合掌道：「我出家人，不敢破葷。」那女怪道：「你出家人不敢破葷，怎麼前日在子母河邊吃水高，今日又好吃鄧沙餡？」三藏道：「水高船去急，沙陷馬行遲。」The demon laughed and said, "Imperial Brother, why did you not break it open for me?" Sanzang pressed his palms together and said, "As one who has left the household life, I dare not break open meat." The demon said, "You dare not break open meat as a monk who has left the household — then how is it that the other day at the River of Mother and Child you drank so eagerly of the high water, and today you're so fond of bean-paste filling?" Sanzang replied, "Where the water runs high, the boat goes swiftly; where the sand gives way, the horse walks slowly."

行者在格子眼聽著兩個言語相攀，恐怕師父亂了真性，忍不住，現了本相，掣鐵棒喝道：「孽畜無禮！」那女怪見了，口噴一道煙光，把花亭子罩住，教：「小的們，收了御弟。」他卻拿一柄三股鋼叉，跳出亭門，罵道：「潑猴憊懶！Listening through the lattice as the two of them traded these words back and forth, Xingzhe, fearing his master's true nature might be thrown into confusion, could not restrain himself; he revealed his true form, drew out his iron rod, and shouted, "You wretched beast, how insolent!" Seeing this, the female demon spewed out a stream of smoke and light, shrouding the flower pavilion, and cried, "You girls, take the Imperial Brother away and hide him." She then snatched up a three-pronged steel fork, leapt out of the pavilion gate, and cursed, "You vile, insufferable ape!怎麼敢私入吾家，偷窺我容貌？How dare you sneak into my home and spy on my face?不要走，吃老娘一叉。」這大聖使鐵棒架住，且戰且退，二人打出洞外。Don't run — taste a thrust of your old lady's fork!" The Great Sage raised his iron rod to block, and fighting as he retreated, the two of them battled their way out of the cave.那八戒、沙僧正在石屏前等候，忽見他兩人爭持，慌得八戒將白馬牽過道：「沙僧，你只管看守行李、馬匹，等老豬去幫打幫打。」好獃子，雙手舉鈀，趕上前叫道：「師兄靠後，讓我打這潑賤。」那怪見八戒來，他又使個手段，呼了一聲，鼻中出火，口內生煙，把身子抖了一抖，三股叉飛舞沖迎。Bajie and Sha Seng, waiting in front of the stone screen, suddenly saw the two of them locked in combat; alarmed, Bajie led the white horse aside and said, "Sha Seng, you just keep watch over the luggage and horse — let old Zhu go help with the fighting." The splendid idiot raised his rake in both hands and rushed forward shouting, "Brother, stand back — let me strike this vile wench." Seeing Bajie approach, the demon employed another trick of her own — with a cry, fire shot from her nose and smoke poured from her mouth; she gave her body a shake, and her three-pronged fork whirled and danced to meet them head-on.那女怪也不知有幾隻手，沒頭沒臉的滾將來。No one could tell how many arms that female demon had, as she came tumbling in, heedless of head or face.這行者與八戒兩邊攻住。Xingzhe and Bajie pressed in on her from two sides.那怪道：「孫悟空，你好不識進退。The demon said, "Sun Wukong, you truly do not know when to advance and when to retreat.我便認得你，你是不認得我。I know who you are, but you do not know who I am.你那雷音寺裡佛如來，也還怕我哩。Even the Buddha Tathagata of Thunderclap Monastery fears me.量你這兩個毛人，到得那裡？As for you two hairy fellows, what do you think you can accomplish against me?都上來，一個個仔細看打。」這一場怎見得好戰：Come at me together, and I'll give each of you a good taste of my blows!" What a fine battle this was — see how well it is described:

三個戰鬥多時，不分勝負。The three of them fought a long while, with neither side gaining the upper hand.那女怪將身一縱，使出個倒馬毒樁，不覺的把大聖頭皮上扎了一下。The female demon then sprang forward and unleashed her "horse-toppling poison stake," and before he knew it, she had stabbed the Great Sage on the crown of his head.行者叫聲：「苦啊！」忍耐不得，負痛敗陣而走。Xingzhe cried out, "Oh, the pain!" Unable to bear it, he fled the battle in defeat, wracked with pain.八戒見事不諧，拖著鈀撤身而退。Seeing things were not going well, Bajie dragged his rake and pulled back as well.那怪得了勝，收了鋼叉。Having won the upper hand, the demon put away her steel fork.

行者抱頭，皺眉苦面，叫聲：「利害！Xingzhe clutched his head, brows knit in a pained grimace, crying out, "Fierce! Terrible!利害！」八戒到跟前問道：「哥哥，你怎麼正戰到好處，卻就叫苦連天的走了？」行者抱著頭，只叫：「疼疼疼。」沙僧道：「想是你頭風發了？」行者跳道：「不是，不是。」八戒道：「哥哥，我不曾見你受傷，卻頭疼，何也？」行者哼哼的道：「了不得，了不得。Terrible!" Bajie came up to him and asked, "Brother, you were fighting so well — why did you suddenly cry out in pain and flee?" Xingzhe, clutching his head, only cried, "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!" Sha Seng said, "Perhaps your old headwind ailment has flared up again?" Xingzhe jumped and said, "No, no." Bajie said, "Brother, I never saw you get wounded, yet your head aches — how can that be?" Xingzhe groaned and said, "This is terrible, this is terrible.我與他正然打處，他見我破了他的叉勢，他就把身子一縱，不知是件甚麼兵器，著我頭上扎了一下，就這般頭疼難禁，故此敗了陣來。」八戒笑道：「只這等靜處常誇口，說你的頭是修煉過的。Just as I was fighting with her, and she saw I had broken her fork technique, she suddenly sprang up — I don't know what weapon it was — and stabbed me right on the head; the pain was more than I could bear, and that's why I fled the field." Bajie laughed and said, "You're always boasting in quiet moments, saying your head has been tempered through cultivation.卻怎麼就不禁這一下扎？」行者道：「正是。How is it, then, that it couldn't withstand a single stab?" Xingzhe said, "Indeed.我這頭，自從修煉成真，盜食了蟠桃仙酒、老子金丹，大鬧天宮時，又被玉帝差大力鬼王、二十八宿，押赴斗牛宮處處斬，那些神將使刀斧鎚劍，雷打火燒；This head of mine — ever since I achieved my true form through cultivation, stole and ate the Immortal Peaches and Laozi's Golden Elixir, and made great havoc in Heaven, was seized by the Jade Emperor's mighty demon kings and the Twenty-Eight Constellations and taken to be executed at the Dipper-and-Ox Palace, where those divine generals struck at me with knives, axes, hammers, and swords, thunder struck me and fire burned me;及老子把我安於八卦爐，煅煉四十九日：俱未傷損。and later, when Laozi placed me in the Eight Trigrams Furnace and smelted me for forty-nine days — none of it ever harmed me in the least.今日不知這婦人用的是甚麼兵器，把老孫頭弄傷也。」沙僧道：「你放了手，等我看看，莫破了？」行者道：「不破，不破。」八戒道：「我去西梁國討個膏藥你貼貼。」行者道：「又不瘇不破，怎麼貼得膏藥？」八戒笑道：「哥啊，我的胎前產後病倒不曾有，你倒弄了個腦門癰了。」Yet today, I don't know what weapon that woman used, but she has managed to injure old Sun's head." Sha Seng said, "Let go of your head and let me have a look — is the skin broken?" Xingzhe said, "It's not broken, not broken." Bajie said, "I'll go to the Western Liang Kingdom and get some plaster medicine to put on it for you." Xingzhe said, "It's not even swollen or broken — how could you apply plaster medicine to it?" Bajie laughed and said, "Brother, I myself have never suffered any prenatal or postnatal ailment, yet you've gone and given yourself an abscess on the crown of your head!"

沙僧道：「二哥且休取笑。Sha Seng said, "Second Brother, let's not joke about this.如今天色晚矣，大哥傷了頭，師父又不知死活，怎的是好？」行者哼道：「師父沒事。It's growing late now, Big Brother's head is injured, and we don't even know whether Master is alive or dead — what shall we do?" Xingzhe groaned, "Master is fine.我進去時，變作蜜蜂兒，飛入裡面，見那婦人坐在花亭子上。When I went in, I transformed into a bee and flew inside, and saw that woman sitting in the flower pavilion.少頃，兩個丫鬟捧兩盤饝饝：一盤是人肉餡，葷的；After a while, two serving girls brought in two trays of buns: one filled with human flesh — the meat kind;一盤是鄧沙餡，素的。and the other filled with bean paste — the vegetarian kind.又著兩個女童扶師父出來吃一個壓驚，又要與師父做甚麼道伴兒。She also had two serving girls help Master out to eat one to calm his shock, and wanted, moreover, to make him her companion in some way.師父始初不與那婦人答話，也不吃饝饝。At first Master would not answer the woman, nor would he eat the buns.後見他甜言美語，不知怎麼，就開口說話，卻說吃素的。But afterward, hearing her sweet, honeyed words, somehow he opened his mouth to speak, and said he would eat the vegetarian one.那婦人就將一個素的劈開，遞與師父。The woman then broke open a vegetarian one and handed it to Master.師父將個囫圇葷的遞與那婦人。Master handed the whole, unbroken meat one to the woman.婦人道：『怎不劈破？』師父道：『出家人不敢破葷。』那婦人道：『既不破葷，前日怎麼在子母河邊飲水高，今日又好吃鄧沙餡？』師父不解其意，答他兩句道：『水高船去急，沙陷馬行遲。』我在格子上聽見，恐怕師父亂性，便就現了原身，掣棒就打。The woman said, 'Why don't you break it open?' Master said, 'One who has left the household dares not break open meat.' The woman said, 'If you dare not break open meat, then why, the other day at the River of Mother and Child, did you drink so eagerly of the high water, and today you're so fond of bean-paste filling?' Master, not understanding her meaning, answered her with two lines: 'Where the water runs high, the boat goes swiftly; where the sand gives way, the horse walks slowly.' Listening from the lattice, I feared Master's nature might be thrown into confusion, so I revealed my true form and struck at once with my rod.他也使神通，噴出煙霧，叫『收了御弟』，就掄鋼叉，與老孫打出洞來也。」沙僧聽說，咬指道：「這潑賤也不知從那裡就隨將我們來，把上項事情都知道了。」She too used her magic powers, spewing out smoke and mist, and cried 'Take the Imperial Brother away and hide him,' then wielded her steel fork and fought old Sun out of the cave." Hearing this, Sha Seng bit his finger and said, "So this vile wench must have followed us all along without our knowing, and learned all about what happened before."

八戒道：「這等說，便我們安歇不成。Bajie said, "If that's so, then we won't be able to rest easy.莫管甚麼黃昏半夜，且去他門上索戰，嚷嚷鬧鬧，攪他個不睡，莫教他捉弄了我師父。」行者道：「頭疼，去不得。」沙僧道：「不須索戰：一則師兄頭痛；Never mind whether it's dusk or midnight — let's go to her gate and challenge her to battle, making such a racket that she can't sleep either, so she won't get the chance to trifle with our master." Xingzhe said, "My head aches, I can't go." Sha Seng said, "There's no need to go challenge her: first, Elder Brother's head hurts;二來我師父是個真僧，決不以色空亂性。and second, our Master is a true monk who will surely never let lust confuse his empty heart.且就在山坡下，閉風處坐這一夜，養養精神，待天明再作理會。」遂此三個弟兄拴牢白馬，守護行囊，就在坡下安歇不題。Let's just settle down for the night in a sheltered spot at the foot of the mountain, out of the wind, to rest and recover our strength, and wait until daybreak to deal with this properly." So the three brothers tethered the white horse securely, kept watch over the luggage, and settled down for the night at the foot of the slope — no more of that for now.

卻說那女怪放下兇惡之心，重整歡愉之色，叫：「小的們，把前後門都關緊了。」又使兩個支更，防守行者，但聽門響，即時通報。Now to tell of the female demon: having set aside her fierce and vicious mood, she once again put on an air of joy and delight, and called out, "You girls, shut all the front and back doors tight." She then also had two of them stand watch in shifts to guard against Xingzhe, telling them that the moment they heard any sound at the door, they were to report at once.卻又教：「女童，將臥房收拾齊整，掌燭焚香，請唐御弟來，我與他交歡。」遂把長老從後邊攙出。She then further ordered, "Girls, tidy up the bedchamber neatly, light the candles and burn incense, and invite the Tang Imperial Brother here — I shall join with him in pleasure." She then had the elder brought out from the back.那女怪弄出十分嬌媚之態，攜定唐僧道：「常言：『黃金未為貴，安樂值錢多。』且和你做會夫妻兒耍子去也。」這長老咬定牙關，聲也不透。The female demon put on an utterly bewitching, coquettish air, and taking hold of Tang Seng, said, "As the saying goes, 'Gold is not so precious as ease and pleasure are worth.' Come, let us go play at being husband and wife for a while." The elder clenched his teeth tight and made not a sound.欲待不去，恐他生心害命，只得戰兢兢，跟著他步入香房。He wished not to go, but feared she might grow murderous and take his life, and so, trembling with fear, he had no choice but to follow her, step by step, into the fragrant chamber.卻如痴如啞，那裡擡頭舉目，更不曾看他房裡是甚床鋪幔帳，也不知有甚箱籠梳妝。Yet he acted as though struck dumb and witless, never once raising his head or lifting his eyes — he never even noticed what kind of bed, curtains, or drapery were in her room, nor did he know what chests or dressing tables might be there.那女怪說出的雨意雲情，亦漠然無聽。To all the rain-and-cloud passion the female demon poured out in words, he remained utterly indifferent, as though he heard nothing at all.好和尚，真是：What a fine monk indeed — truly it may be said:

他兩個散言碎語的，直鬥到更深，唐長老全不動念。The two of them, exchanging scattered words back and forth, carried on until deep in the night, yet Tang Seng's heart never stirred in the slightest.那女怪扯扯拉拉的不放，這師父只是老老成成的不肯。The female demon pulled and tugged at him, unwilling to let go, while the master remained solemn and proper, utterly unyielding.直纏到有半夜時候，把那怪弄得惱了，叫：「小的們，拿繩來。」可憐將一個心愛的人兒，一條繩，綑的像個猱獅模樣。They wrangled on like this until nearly midnight, until the demon was worked into a fury, and cried, "You girls, bring rope!" How pitiable — the very man she so doted on, she had bound with a rope until he looked like a trussed-up lion cub.又教拖在房廊下去，卻吹滅銀燈，各歸寢處。She then had him dragged out under the corridor eaves, blew out the silver lamp, and everyone retired to their own quarters.一夜無詞。Nothing more happened that night.

不覺的雞聲三唱。Before they knew it, the cock had crowed three times.那山坡下孫大聖欠身道：「我這頭疼了一會，到如今也不疼不麻，只是有些作癢。」八戒笑道：「癢便再教他扎一下，何如？」行者啐了一口道：「放放放。」八戒又笑道：「放放放，我師父這一夜倒浪浪浪。」沙僧道：「且莫鬥口。Down at the foot of the mountain slope, the Great Sage Sun raised himself up and said, "My head ached for a while, but now it neither hurts nor feels numb — only somewhat itchy." Bajie laughed, "If it itches, shall we have her give it another stab, how about that?" Xingzhe spat and said, "Enough, enough, enough!" Bajie laughed again, saying, "Enough, enough, enough — meanwhile our Master's had quite a lively, lively, lively night of it!" Sha Seng said, "Let's not bicker.天亮了，快趕早兒捉妖怪去。」行者道：「兄弟，你只管在此守馬，休得動身。It's grown light — let's hurry and catch the demon early." Xingzhe said, "Brother, you just stay here and watch the horse — don't move from this spot.豬八戒跟我去。」Zhu Bajie, come with me."

那獃子抖擻精神，束一束皂錦直裰，相隨行者，各帶了兵器，跳上山崖，徑至石屏之下。The idiot roused his spirits, cinched up his black brocade robe, and followed Xingzhe; each carrying his weapon, they leapt up the mountain cliff and made straight for the foot of the stone screen.行者道：「你且立住。Xingzhe said, "You wait here a moment.只怕這怪物夜裡傷了師父，先等我進去打聽打聽。I fear that demon may have harmed Master in the night — let me go in first and listen about a bit.倘若被他哄了，喪了元陽，真個虧了德行，卻就大家散火；If he has been fooled by her and lost his primal yang essence, then truly his virtue and conduct would be ruined, and we might as well all disband and go our separate ways;若不亂性情，禪心未動，卻好努力相持，打死精怪，救師西去。」八戒道：「你好痴啞。but if his nature has not been thrown into disorder and his meditative heart remains unmoved, then it will be all the better to fight on with all our strength, kill this monster spirit, and rescue our master to continue west." Bajie said, "You're being awfully dim and simple.常言道：『乾魚可好與貓兒作枕頭？』就不如此，就不如此，也要抓你幾把是。」行者道：「莫胡疑亂說，待我看去。」As the saying goes, 'Can a dried fish make a good pillow for a cat?' Even if nothing happened, he'd still have gotten a few gropes in for sure." Xingzhe said, "Don't spout such wild nonsense — let me go and see."

好大聖，轉石屏，別了八戒，搖身還變個蜜蜂兒，飛入門裡。Splendid Great Sage — he went around the stone screen, took leave of Bajie, shook himself once more into a bee, and flew in through the gate.見那門裡有兩個丫鬟，頭枕著梆鈴，正然睡哩。He saw two serving girls inside the gate, sleeping with their heads pillowed on the wooden clappers and bells.卻到花亭子觀看，那妖精原來弄了半夜，都辛苦了，一個個都不知天曉，還睡著哩。He went on to the flower pavilion to look, and found that the demon, having toiled away half the night, along with everyone else, was worn out — every one of them, unaware that day had broken, still fast asleep.行者飛來後面，影影的只聽見唐僧聲喚。Xingzhe flew on to the back, and dimly, from somewhere, heard the sound of Tang Seng's voice crying out.忽擡頭，見那房廊下四馬攢蹄綑著師父。Looking up suddenly, he saw Master bound hand and foot like a trussed horse under the corridor eaves.行者輕輕的釘在唐僧頭上，叫：「師父。」唐僧認得聲音，道：「悟空來了？Xingzhe lightly alighted on Tang Seng's head and called, "Master." Tang Seng recognized the voice and said, "Wukong, have you come?快救我命。」行者道：「夜來好事如何？」三藏咬牙道：「我寧死也不肯如此。」行者道：「昨日我見他有相憐相愛之意，卻怎麼今日把你這般挫折？」三藏道：「他把我纏了半夜，我衣不解帶，身未沾床。Quickly save my life." Xingzhe said, "How did last night's happy affair go?" Sanzang gritted his teeth and said, "I would rather die than submit to such a thing." Xingzhe said, "Yesterday I saw she seemed to hold tender feelings of love and pity for you — how is it then that today she has tormented you so?" Sanzang said, "She kept at me the whole night through; I never loosened my robe, nor did my body ever touch the bed.他見我不肯相從，才綑我在此。When she saw I would not submit to her, she bound me here like this.你千萬救我取經去也。」You must, whatever it takes, save me so I may go on to fetch the scriptures."

他師徒們正然問答，早驚醒了那個妖精。Just as master and disciple were exchanging these words, they startled the demon awake before long.妖精雖是下狠，卻還有流連不捨之意。Wicked as the demon was, she still harbored some lingering tenderness, unwilling to let go entirely.一覺翻身，只聽見「取經去也」一句，他就滾下床來，厲聲高叫道：「好夫妻不做，卻取甚麼經去？」Turning over in her sleep, she caught only the words "go to fetch the scriptures," and at once rolled out of bed, crying out sharply, "Refusing to be a good husband and wife, and off to fetch some scriptures instead?"

行者慌了，撇卻師父，急展翅，飛將出去，現了本相，叫聲：「八戒。」那獃子轉過石屏道：「那話兒成了否？」行者笑道：「不曾，不曾。Startled, Xingzhe abandoned his master, quickly spread his wings, and flew straight out; resuming his true form, he called out, "Bajie!" The idiot came around the stone screen and asked, "Did the deed get done or not?" Xingzhe laughed, "No, not at all.老師父被他摩弄不從，惱了綑在那裡。Our old Master, when she pawed at him and he wouldn't yield, she grew angry and bound him up there.正與我訴說前情，那怪驚醒了，我慌得出來也。」八戒道：「師父曾說甚來？」行者道：「他只說衣不解帶，身未沾床。」八戒笑道：「好好好，還是個真和尚！He was just telling me what had happened when the demon woke up in alarm, and I fled out here in a hurry." Bajie said, "What did Master say happened?" Xingzhe said, "He only said he never loosened his robe, nor did his body ever touch the bed." Bajie laughed, "Good, good, good — he really is a true monk after all!我們救他去。」Let's go rescue him."

獃子粗鹵，不容分說，舉釘鈀，望他那石頭門上盡力氣一鈀，唿喇喇築做幾塊。The idiot, rough and reckless as ever, without waiting for further discussion, raised his muckrake and struck the stone door with all his might — with a great crash, it shattered into several pieces.諕得那幾個枕梆鈴睡的丫鬟跑至二層門外，叫聲：「開門，前門被昨日那兩個醜男人打破了！」那女怪正出房門，只見四五個丫鬟跑進去報道：「奶奶，昨日那兩個醜男人又來把前門已打碎矣。」那怪聞言，即忙叫：「小的們，燒湯洗面梳妝。」叫：「把御弟連繩擡在後房收了。This so frightened the serving girls sleeping there with their heads on the clappers and bells that they ran to the second gate, shouting, "Open up! The front door has been smashed in by those same two ugly men from yesterday!" The female demon, just then coming out of her chamber, saw four or five serving girls come running in to report, "My lady, those same two ugly men from yesterday have come again and already smashed the front door to pieces." Hearing this, the demon at once cried, "You girls, heat water for me to wash my face and do my hair." She then ordered, "Carry the Imperial Brother, rope and all, to the back room and hide him away.等我打他去。」Let me go deal with them."

好妖精，走出來，舉著三股叉，罵道：「潑猴！The splendid demon walked out, brandishing her three-pronged fork, and cursed, "You vile ape!野彘！Wild boar!老大無知。How utterly insolent you are.你怎敢打破我門？」八戒罵道：「濫淫賤貨！How dare you break down my door?" Bajie cursed back, "You filthy, lecherous slut!你倒困陷我師父，返敢硬嘴。You've trapped my master, and yet you dare talk back!我師父是你哄將來做老公的，快快送出饒你；You lured my master here to make him your husband — send him out at once and I'll spare you;敢再說半個『不』字，老豬一頓鈀，連山也築倒你的。」那妖精那容分說，抖擻身軀，依前弄法，鼻口內噴煙冒火，舉鋼叉就刺八戒。if you dare say even half a 'no,' old Zhu's rake will knock down the very mountain along with you!" The demon would not let him finish, but shook herself and worked her magic as before, smoke and fire gushing from her nose and mouth, and raised her steel fork to stab at Bajie.八戒側身躲過，著鈀就築；Bajie turned aside to dodge it, then swung his rake to strike;孫大聖使鐵棒並力相幫。Sun the Great Sage wielded his iron rod to help him with all his strength.那怪又弄神通，也不知是幾隻手，左右遮攔。The demon again worked her magic powers, and — who knew how many arms she had — warded off blows left and right.交鋒三五個回合，不知是甚兵器，把八戒嘴唇上也扎了一下。After three or five bouts of fighting, some weapon or other — no one knew what — stung Bajie on the lip.那獃子拖著鈀，侮著嘴，負痛逃生。The idiot dragged his rake along, clutching his mouth, and fled in pain to save his life.行者卻也有些醋他，虛丟一棒，敗陣而走。Xingzhe too felt some misgivings about her, feinted a blow with his rod, and fled the field defeated.那怪得勝而回，叫小的們搬石塊壘疊了前門不題。The demon returned victorious and ordered her little ones to pile up stones and block the front gate — but no more of that for now.

卻說那沙和尚正在坡前放馬，只聽得那裡豬哼。Now to tell of Sha Monk, who was tending the horse before the slope when he suddenly heard grunting close by.忽擡頭，見八戒侮著嘴，哼將來。Raising his head, he saw Bajie coming toward him, clutching his mouth and groaning.沙僧道：「怎的說？」獃子哼道：「了不得，了不得。Sha Seng said, "What's the matter?" The idiot groaned, "Terrible, terrible.疼疼疼。」說不了，行者也到跟前，笑道：「好獃子啊，昨日咒我是腦門癰，今日卻也弄做個瘇嘴瘟了。」八戒哼道：「難忍難忍，疼得緊，利害利害。」It hurts, it hurts, it hurts." Before he had finished speaking, Xingzhe too arrived, and said with a laugh, "Well, idiot — yesterday you cursed me for having an abscess on my crown, and today you've gone and gotten yourself a swollen-lip plague." Bajie groaned, "Unbearable, unbearable, it hurts something fierce, terrible, terrible."

三人正然難處，只見一個老媽媽兒，左手提著一個青竹籃兒，自南山路上挑菜而來。While the three of them were at a loss what to do, they saw an old woman, a green bamboo basket in her left hand, coming along the road from the southern hill, gathering herbs.沙僧道：「大哥，那媽媽來得近了，等我問他個信兒，看這個是甚妖精，是甚兵器，這般傷人？」行者道：「你且住，等老孫問他去來。」行者急睜睛看，只見頭直上有祥雲蓋頂，左右有香霧籠身。Sha Seng said, "Elder Brother, that old woman is drawing near — let me ask her for word, to find out what demon this is, and what weapon, that could hurt someone like this." Xingzhe said, "Wait a moment, let old Sun go and ask her." Xingzhe opened his eyes wide and looked closely, and saw that auspicious clouds capped her head directly above, and fragrant mist wreathed her body on both sides.行者認得，即叫：「兄弟們，還不來叩頭，那媽媽是菩薩來也。」慌得豬八戒忍疼下拜，沙和尚牽馬躬身，孫大聖合掌跪下，叫聲：「南無大慈大悲救苦救難靈感觀世音菩薩。」Xingzhe recognized her at once and called out, "Brothers, why haven't you come to kowtow yet — that old woman is the Bodhisattva come among us!" In alarm, Zhu Bajie bore his pain and bowed down, Sha Monk led the horse and bent low, and Sun the Great Sage pressed his palms together and knelt, crying out, "Namo the greatly compassionate, greatly merciful, sorrow-relieving, suffering-saving, wondrously responsive Guanshiyin Bodhisattva."

那菩薩見他們認得元光，即踏祥雲，起在半空，現了真像，原來是魚籃之像。Seeing that they had recognized her divine light, the Bodhisattva stepped onto an auspicious cloud, rose into midair, and revealed her true form — it turned out to be the form of the Fish-Basket Guanyin.行者趕到空中，拜告道：「菩薩，恕弟子失迎之罪。Xingzhe rushed up into the air and bowed in supplication, saying, "Bodhisattva, forgive your disciple the fault of failing to greet you properly.我等努力救師，不知菩薩下降。We were striving so hard to save our master that we did not know the Bodhisattva had descended.今遇魔難難收，萬望菩薩搭救搭救。」菩薩道：「這妖精十分利害。We have now met with a demon-calamity we cannot overcome, and we beg the Bodhisattva a thousand times over to rescue us." The Bodhisattva said, "This demon is extremely fierce.他那三股叉是生成的兩隻鉗腳。That three-pronged fork of hers is really her own two pincer-legs, born that way.扎人痛者，是尾上一個鉤子，喚做倒馬毒。What stings people so painfully is a hook on her tail, called the 'horse-toppling poison.'本身是個蝎子精。In her true form she is a scorpion spirit.他前者在雷音寺聽佛談經，如來見了，不合用手推他一把，他就轉過鉤子，把如來左手中拇指上扎了一下。Once before, she was listening to the Buddha expound the sutras at Leiyin Temple, and when Rulai saw her, he made the mistake of pushing her aside with his hand — whereupon she turned her hook around and stung Rulai on the thumb of his left hand.如來也疼難禁，即著金剛拿他。Even Rulai could not bear the pain, and at once ordered a Vajra Guardian to seize her.他卻在這裡。But she has ended up here.若要救得唐僧，除是別告一位方好，我也是近他不得。」行者再拜道：「望菩薩指示指示，別告那位去好？If you wish to save Tang Seng, you must appeal to someone else — even I cannot get near her." Xingzhe bowed again and said, "I beg the Bodhisattva to instruct me — whom else should I appeal to?弟子即去請他也。」菩薩道：「你去東天門裡光明宮告求昴日星官，方能降伏。」言罷，遂化作一道金光，徑回南海。Your disciple will go and invite him at once." The Bodhisattva said, "Go to the Guangming Palace within the Eastern Heavenly Gate and entreat the Star Officer Mao Ri — only he can subdue her." Having spoken, she transformed into a beam of golden light and returned straight to Nanhai.

孫大聖才按雲頭，對八戒、沙僧道：「兄弟放心，師父有救星了。」沙僧道：「是那裡救星？」行者道：「才然菩薩指示，教我告請昴日星官。Only then did Sun the Great Sage bring his cloud down, and said to Bajie and Sha Seng, "Rest easy, brothers — Master has a savior now." Sha Seng said, "Where is this savior?" Xingzhe said, "Just now the Bodhisattva instructed me to go and entreat the Star Officer Mao Ri.老孫去來。」八戒侮著嘴哼道：「哥啊，就問星官討些止疼的藥餌來。」行者笑道：「不須用藥，只似我昨日疼過夜就好了。」沙僧道：「不必煩絮，快早去罷。」Old Sun is off." Bajie, clutching his mouth, groaned, "Brother, ask the Star Officer for some pain-relieving medicine while you're at it." Xingzhe laughed and said, "No need for medicine — just endure it through the night as I did yesterday, and it'll be fine." Sha Seng said, "No need to fuss about it — hurry and go quickly."

好行者，急忙駕觔斗雲，須臾到東天門外。Splendid Xingzhe — he hastily mounted his somersault cloud, and in an instant reached outside the Eastern Heavenly Gate.忽見增長天王當面作禮道：「大聖何往？」行者道：「因保唐僧西方取經，路遇魔障纏身，要到光明宮見昴日星官走走。」忽又見陶、張、辛、鄧四大元帥，也問何往。Suddenly he saw the Heavenly King Zengzhang, who bowed before him and said, "Where is the Great Sage bound?" Xingzhe said, "Since I am escorting Tang Seng west to fetch the scriptures, we met a demonic calamity along the way, and I must go to the Guangming Palace to see the Star Officer Mao Ri." Then he suddenly saw the four Great Marshals, Tao, Zhang, Xin, and Deng, who also asked where he was going.行者道：「要尋昴日星官去降妖救師。」四元帥道：「星官今早奉玉帝旨意，上觀星臺巡察去了。」行者道：「可有這話？」辛天君道：「小將等與他同下斗牛宮，豈敢說假？」陶天君道：「今已許久，或將回矣。Xingzhe said, "I'm looking for the Star Officer Mao Ri to subdue a demon and save my master." The four marshals said, "The Star Officer received the Jade Emperor's decree this morning and has gone up to the Guanxing Terrace on patrol." Xingzhe said, "Is that really so?" Heavenly Lord Xin said, "We lesser generals came down from the Dou Niu Palace together with him — how would we dare speak falsely?" Heavenly Lord Tao said, "It has already been quite a while now; perhaps he will be returning soon.大聖還先去光明宮，如未回，再去觀星臺可也。」The Great Sage might as well go first to the Guangming Palace, and if he has not returned, then go on to the Guanxing Terrace."

大聖遂喜，即別他們。The Great Sage was pleased at this, and at once took leave of them.至光明宮門首，果是無人，復抽身就走，只見那壁廂有一行兵士擺列，後面星官來了。When he reached the gate of the Guangming Palace, indeed there was no one there, so he turned and left again, when he saw over on one side a line of soldiers drawn up, and behind them the Star Officer coming.那星官還穿的是拜駕朝衣，一身金縷。The Star Officer was still wearing the court robes he had worn to attend the audience, a body full of golden threads.但見他：Just see how he looked:

前行的兵士看見行者立於光明宮外，急轉身報道：「主公，孫大聖在這裡也。」那星官斂雲霧整束朝衣，停執事分開左右，上前作禮道：「大聖何來？」行者道：「專來拜煩救師父一難。」星官道：「何難？The soldiers in front, seeing Xingzhe standing outside the Guangming Palace, quickly turned back to report, "My lord, Sun the Great Sage is here." The Star Officer gathered in his clouds and mist, straightened his court robes, had his attendants stand aside to left and right, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Whence comes the Great Sage?" Xingzhe said, "I have come expressly to trouble you for help in a calamity befalling my master." The Star Officer said, "What calamity?在何地方？」行者道：「在西梁國毒敵山琵琶洞。」星官道：「那山洞有甚妖怪，卻來呼喚小神？」行者道：「觀音菩薩適才顯化，說是一個蝎子精，特舉先生方能治得，因此來請。」星官道：「本欲回奏玉帝，奈大聖至此，又感菩薩舉薦，恐遲誤事，小神不敢請獻茶，且和你去降妖精，卻再來回旨罷。」And in what place?" Xingzhe said, "At the Pipa Cave on Dudi Mountain, in the Xiliang Kingdom." The Star Officer said, "What manner of demon lives in that mountain cave, that you should come and summon this lowly god?" Xingzhe said, "The Bodhisattva Guanyin manifested herself just now and said it is a scorpion spirit, and specially recommended that only you, sir, could deal with her — that is why I have come to entreat you." The Star Officer said, "I had meant to report back to the Jade Emperor first, but since the Great Sage has come all this way, and moreover on the recommendation of the Bodhisattva, I fear delay would spoil matters. This lowly god dares not even offer you tea — let us go together to subdue the demon, and I shall return to make my report afterward."

大聖聞言，即同出東天門，直至西梁國，望見毒敵山不遠，行者指道：「此山便是。」星官按下雲頭，同行者至石屏前山坡之下。Hearing this, the Great Sage went out through the Eastern Heavenly Gate together with him, straight to the Xiliang Kingdom, and when Dudi Mountain came into view not far off, Xingzhe pointed and said, "This is the mountain." The Star Officer brought his cloud down, and together with Xingzhe reached the foot of the slope before the stone screen.沙僧見了道：「二哥起來，大哥請得星官來了。」那獃子還侮著嘴道：「恕罪，恕罪。Seeing them, Sha Seng said, "Second Brother, get up — Elder Brother has brought the Star Officer here." The idiot, still clutching his mouth, said, "Forgive me, forgive me.有病在身，不能行禮。」星官道：「你是個修行之人，何病之有？」八戒道：「早間與那妖精交戰，被他著我唇上扎了一下，至今還疼哩。」星官道：「你上來，我與你醫治醫治。」獃子才放了手，口裡哼哼唧唧道：「千萬治治，待好了謝你。」那星官用手把嘴唇上摸了一摸，吹一口氣，就不疼了。I have an illness on me and cannot make the proper bow." The Star Officer said, "You are a person in cultivation — what illness could you have?" Bajie said, "Earlier this morning, fighting with that demon, I was stung on the lip by her, and it's still hurting even now." The Star Officer said, "Come here, and I will treat it for you." Only then did the idiot take his hand away from his mouth, mumbling and groaning, "Please, please cure it — once it's better I'll thank you properly." The Star Officer reached out and rubbed the lip once with his hand, blew a breath on it, and at once the pain was gone.獃子歡喜下拜道：「妙啊！The idiot, delighted, bowed down and said, "Marvelous!妙啊！」行者笑道：「煩星官也把我頭上摸摸。」星官道：「你未遭毒，摸他何為？」行者道：「昨日也曾遭過，只是過了夜，才不疼。Marvelous!" Xingzhe laughed and said, "May I trouble the Star Officer to rub my head as well?" The Star Officer said, "You were not poisoned — why should I rub it?" Xingzhe said, "I too was struck by the poison yesterday, and it only stopped hurting after a night had passed.如今還有些麻癢，只恐發天陰，也煩治治。」星官真個也把頭上摸了一摸，吹口氣，也就解了餘毒，不麻不癢了。Now there is still some numbness and itching, and I fear it may flare up when the weather turns overcast — please treat it as well, if you would." The Star Officer did indeed rub his head as well, and blew a breath on it, and this dispelled the remaining poison, so that it was no longer numb or itchy.八戒發狠道：「哥哥，去打那潑賤去。」星官道：「正是，正是。Bajie said fiercely, "Brother, let's go and beat that vile wretch." The Star Officer said, "Just so, just so.你兩個叫他出來，等我好降他。」You two call her out, so that I may be able to subdue her."

行者與八戒跳上山坡，又至石屏之後。Xingzhe and Bajie leaped up the slope and went once more behind the stone screen.獃子口裡亂罵「手似撈鉤」，一頓釘鈀，把那洞門外壘疊的石塊爬開。The idiot cursed wildly, "Hands like grappling hooks!" and with a flurry of his rake, cleared away the stones piled up outside the cave gate.闖至一層門，又一釘鈀，將二門築得粉碎。Bursting through to the first gate, he swung his rake again and smashed the second gate to pieces.慌得那門裡小妖飛報：「奶奶，那兩個醜男人又把二層門也打破了。」那怪正教解放唐僧，討素茶飯與他吃哩。In alarm, the little demons within the gate rushed to report, "My lady, those two ugly men have broken through the second gate too!" The demon was at that very moment ordering that Tang Seng be untied, and asking for vegetarian tea and food to be given him to eat.聽見打破二門，即便跳出花亭子，掄叉來刺八戒；Hearing that the second gate had been broken, she leaped at once out of the flower pavilion and swung her fork to stab at Bajie;八戒使釘鈀迎架；Bajie raised his rake to meet and block it;行者在傍，又使鐵棒來打。Xingzhe, at his side, also swung his iron rod to strike.那怪趕至身邊，要下毒手；The demon pressed right up close, meaning to strike a poisonous blow;行者與八戒識得方法，回頭就走。Xingzhe and Bajie, knowing the plan, turned and fled at once.

那妖怪趕過石屏之後，行者叫聲：「昴宿何在？」只見那星官立於山坡之上，現出本相，原來是一隻雙冠子大公雞，昂起頭來，約有六七尺高，對著妖怪叫了一聲。The demon chased after them past the stone screen, and Xingzhe called out, "Where is Mao Ri?" Just then the Star Officer, standing atop the slope, revealed his true form — he turned out to be a great double-combed rooster, and raising his head high, some six or seven feet tall, he crowed once at the demon.那怪即時就現了本相，原來是個琵琶來大小的一個蝎子精。The demon at once revealed her true form too — she turned out to be a scorpion spirit about the size of a pipa lute.這星官再叫一聲，那怪渾身酥軟，死在坡前。The Star Officer crowed once more, and the demon's whole body went limp, and she died there before the slope.有詩為證。There is a poem as evidence.詩曰：The poem says:

八戒上前，一隻腳屣住那怪的胸背道：「孽畜！Bajie stepped forward and pinned the demon's chest and back down with one foot, saying, "Wretched beast!今番使不得倒馬毒了。」那怪動也不動，被獃子一頓釘鈀，搗作一團爛醬。This time you can't use your horse-toppling poison!" The demon did not move at all, and the idiot pounded her with his rake into a mass of pulp.那星官復聚金光，駕雲而去。The Star Officer once more gathered himself into golden light and departed on his cloud.行者與八戒、沙僧朝天拱謝道：「有累，有累。Xingzhe, Bajie, and Sha Seng faced the sky, cupped their hands, and gave thanks, saying, "We have troubled you, we have troubled you.改日赴宮拜酬。」Some other day we shall come to your palace to pay our respects and repay your kindness."

三人謝畢卻才收拾行李、馬匹，都進洞裡。Once the three of them had finished giving thanks, they gathered up the luggage and the horse, and all went into the cave.見那大小丫鬟兩邊跪下，拜道：「爺爺，我們不是妖邪，都是西梁國女人，前者被這妖精攝來的。They saw the serving-maids, great and small, kneeling on both sides, bowing and saying, "Good sirs, we are not demons — we are all women of the Xiliang Kingdom, carried off by this demon some time ago.你師父在後邊香房裡坐著哭哩。」行者聞言，仔細觀看，果然不見妖氣。Your master is sitting in the fragrant chamber at the back, weeping." Hearing this, Xingzhe looked closely, and indeed there was no trace of demonic aura to be seen.遂入後邊叫道：「師父。」那唐僧見眾齊來，十分歡喜道：「賢徒，累及你們了。So he went to the back and called out, "Master!" Seeing all of them arrive together, Tang Seng was overjoyed and said, "Worthy disciples, I have brought you all this trouble.那婦人何如也？」八戒道：「那廝原是個大母蝎子。What became of that woman?" Bajie said, "That creature turned out to be a great female scorpion.幸得觀音菩薩指示，大哥去天宮裡請得那昴日星官下降，把那廝收伏。Fortunately, thanks to the Bodhisattva Guanyin's guidance, Elder Brother went up to the heavenly palace and invited the Star Officer Mao Ri down, who subdued the creature.才被老豬築做個泥了，方敢深入於此，得看師父之面。」唐僧謝之不盡。Old Zhu just now pounded her into mush, and only then did we dare venture deep in here, to see Master's face again." Tang Seng thanked them without end.又尋些素米、素麵，安排了飲食，吃了一頓。They then found some vegetarian rice and noodles, prepared a meal, and ate their fill.把那些攝將來的女子趕下山，指與回家之路。They sent the women who had been carried off there down the mountain, pointing out the road home to each.點上一把火，把幾間房宇燒毀罄盡。They set a fire and burned the several rooms of the building completely to nothing.請唐僧上馬，找尋大路西行。They invited Tang Seng to mount his horse, and set out to find the main road westward.正是：Truly it was:

畢竟不知幾年上才得成真，且聽下回分解。In the end, we do not know in what year they would attain the true way — listen to the next chapter's explanation.

Loading the interactive reader…

What it’s about

Tripitaka's captor is the Scorpion Spirit, who brings him to her Pipa Cave and presses him to share food and marriage. He refuses both seduction and threats, guarding his vows even when she tries to draw him into bed. Wukong and Bajie locate the cave and attack. The spirit fights with a trident and uses the poisonous hook in her tail to sting Wukong painfully on the head; she also wounds Bajie, forcing both disciples to retreat and seek another remedy.

Guanyin explains that the scorpion once stung the Buddha himself when he brushed her aside during a sermon, and that only the sun deity in rooster form can master her. Wukong summons the Star Lord of the Pleiades. At his cry the monster loses her strength, reveals an enormous scorpion body and dies. Tripitaka is released, and the disciples return him to the Women's Kingdom long enough to take leave properly before continuing west beyond its borders.

When it was written 背景

The Scorpion Spirit's invulnerability is grounded in a traditional correspondence: the rooster is the natural conqueror of insects and scorpions, so cosmic office and animal ecology overlap. Her earlier ability to injure the Buddha makes Wukong's defeat less a measure of weakness than a clue to the necessary counterforce. The threatened monk, meanwhile, meets erotic coercion with stubborn verbal discipline rather than martial action. This conclusion also closes the Women's Kingdom without portraying its human inhabitants as enemies; the queen's desire and the demon's assault have different moral statuses. Readers can follow how the novel moves from temptation, to poison, to a precisely matched celestial cure.

Words in this chapter 生词

饝mó饝mó — variant of 饃 (mó)
僧sēng僧sēng — (bound form) Buddhist monk (abbr. for 僧伽 (sēng qié))
鈀bǎ鈀bǎ — palladium (chemistry) · Taiwan pr. (bā)
戒jièHSK 5戒jiè — to guard against · to exhort · to admonish or warn · to give up or stop doing sth · Buddhist monastic discipline · ring (for a finger) (HSK 5)
妖yāo妖yāo — goblin · witch · devil · bewitching · enchanting · monster · phantom · demon
獃dāiHSK 5獃dāi — foolish; stupid (variant of 呆 (dāi)) · expressionless; blank (variant of 呆 (dāi)) (HSK 5)
葷hūn葷hūn — strong-smelling vegetable (garlic etc) · non-vegetarian food (meat, fish etc) · vulgar · obscene
餡xiàn餡xiàn — filling; stuffing (for dumplings, pies etc)
菩pú菩pú — used in 菩薩 (pú sà) · used in 菩提 (pú tí)
昴mǎo昴mǎo — the Pleiades
屏bīng屏bīng — used in 屏營 (bīng yíng)
御yù御yù — (bound form) imperial; royal · (literary) to drive (a carriage) · (literary) to manage; to govern